Baertschiger is Senate Republican Leader as Salem's Jackie Winters steps down

Oregon Senate Republicans elected Sen. Herman Baertschiger, Jr., R-Grants Pass, as their new leader ahead of the 2019 legislative session, with previous leader Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, stepping down from the post Tuesday night.

"Filling the shoes of Senator Winters is going to be an enormous task," Baertschiger said in a statement. "I am sure I will find myself in Senator Winters' office quite often
during the session."

Winters became leader of the Republican Caucus in November 2016 following the resignation of former Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day. She was the first African American Republican woman to lead an Oregon legislative caucus.

She was first elected to the House in 1998 and was elected to the higher chamber in 2002.

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In a statement announcing her decision not to seek re-election, Winters said she will focus her efforts next session on tackling the state's problems with an eye toward bipartisanship.

"I believe my full attention will need to be focused on one of the things I pride myself on — bringing both sides together to work on solutions to the challenges facing Oregonians," she said.

New Republican Leader Baertschiger is a long-time small business owner who was first elected to the Senate in 2012. He has a background in land management and forestry issues.

Republicans elected as deputy leaders are Sens. Chuck Thomsen, R-Hood River, Alan Olsen, R-Canby, and Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario. Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, retained his position as whip. 

Contact the reporter at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich

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